Billy Bishop Airport has the busiest month to date with more than 250,000 passengers travelling through the airport in June 2016

TORONTO, July 7, 2016 /CNW/ - PortsToronto, owners and operators of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (Billy Bishop Airport), today confirmed that more than 250,000 passengers arrived and departed through the airport in June 2016, marking the busiest month in the airport's history. Both Porter Airlines and Air Canada contributed to the high passenger numbers, which were a combination of leisure and business travellers.

"With two award-winning commercial carriers with direct service to more than 20 destinations in Canada and the U.S., and connections to 80 destinations through partner airline agreements, Billy Bishop Airport is an important gateway for business and leisure travellers alike," said Gene Cabral, Executive Vice President, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and PortsToronto. "Amenities such as the pedestrian tunnel, enhanced shuttle service, full-service lounges, proximity to downtown and shorter lines have established Billy Bishop Airport as the airport of choice among those looking for quick, convenient, comfortable access to such cities as Ottawa, New York, Boston and Montreal. July and August are also shaping up to be busy months and we look forward to welcoming our travellers and helping them along on their journeys."

The busy month at Billy Bishop Airport is consistent with steady growth experienced at the airport since 2006 under its managed growth strategy to ensure balance along the waterfront. It is also in line with a recent Toronto Region Board of Trade report entitled Collaboration, Connectivity and Competitiveness that indicates that the demand in air travel in Southern Ontario will grow by more than 50 per cent in the next 30 years, growing to 90 million passengers and exceeding current capacity which sits at 70 million passengers. As such, Billy Bishop Airport has partnered with Pearson International and other airports from Kitchener to Windsor to plan and prepare for this future growth.

About Billy Bishop Toronto City AirportBilly Bishop Airport is Canada's ninth-busiest airport and welcomes 2.5 million business and leisure travellers each year. The airport is also Canada's sixth-busiest airport with passenger service into the United States. Offering service to more than 20 cities in Canada and the U.S., with connections to more than 80 international destinations, Billy Bishop Airport is an important international gateway and a key driver to Toronto's economy, accounting for more than $2.1 billion in economic output each year and supporting 6,500 jobs, including 1,960 directly associated with the airport operations. The airport has recently won a series of passenger-driven awards, including being named one of the top airports in North America in both the Airports Council International's (ACI) 2015 Airport Service Quality Awards and Skytrax 2016 World Airport Awards.

About PortsToronto (http://www.portstoronto.com/) For more than 100 years PortsToronto, (formerly the Toronto Port Authority), has worked with its partners at the federal, provincial and municipal levels to enhance the economic growth of the City of Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. PortsToronto owns and operates Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which welcomes more than two million passengers each year; the Outer Harbour Marina, one of Canada's largest freshwater marinas; and, Terminals 51 and 52, which provide transportation, distribution, storage and container services to businesses at the Port of Toronto. PortsToronto is committed to fostering strong, healthy and sustainable communities and has invested more than $8 million since 2009 in charitable initiatives and environmental programs that benefit communities along Toronto's waterfront and beyond. PortsToronto operates in accordance with the Canada Marine Act and is guided by a nine-member board with representation from all three levels of government.